§ 17-5-5. Language contained on computer ballots.
(a) Notwithstanding the authority of the secretary of state to determine the design and
content of the computer ballots by rules and regulations, all computer ballots shall
contain a clear and concise statement of the nature of each question stated in plain
language reasonably calculated to be understood by persons with an eighth-grade reading
level, presented without the necessity of repeating the full text of the question
as adopted by the general assembly; provided, that in the case of proposed amendments
to the Constitution of the state of Rhode Island, the full text as adopted by the
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§ 17-5-5. Language contained on computer ballots.
(a) Notwithstanding the authority of the secretary of state to determine the design and
content of the computer ballots by rules and regulations, all computer ballots shall
contain a clear and concise statement of the nature of each question stated in plain
language reasonably calculated to be understood by persons with an eighth-grade reading
level, presented without the necessity of repeating the full text of the question
as adopted by the general assembly; provided, that in the case of proposed amendments
to the Constitution of the state of Rhode Island, the full text as adopted by the
general assembly shall be reprinted on the computer ballots. The secretary of state
shall cause each question appearing on the computer ballot prepared by the secretary
to be designated by number, the first question to be designated by the number I, and
additional questions shall be submitted with numbers in consecutive order.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the general election to be held on November 2, 2004,
in order to avoid a two-sheet statewide ballot, given the number of public questions
to be submitted to the electors at such general election, the secretary of state may
prepare the ballot in such manner that the statewide public questions involving the
issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness, or other long-term financial
obligation, shall appear on the ballot with only a caption and the amount of financial
obligation to be incurred, but without the clear and concise statement of each question,
as otherwise required. Provided, however, that such clear and concise statement of
such question shall instead appear in a conspicuous location within each privacy voting
booth at each polling place with additional copies thereof available at each polling
place; and for mail ballot voters, each such ballot sent to a mail ballot voter shall
be accompanied by a clear and concise statement of each question printed on a separate
sheet of paper.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the general election to be held on November 4, 2014,
in order to avoid a multiple-page statewide ballot, given the number of public questions
to be submitted to the electors at such general election, the secretary of state may
prepare the ballot in such manner that the statewide public questions involving the
issuance of bonds or other evidence of indebtedness, or other long-term financial
obligation, shall appear on the ballot with only a caption and the amount of financial
obligation to be incurred, but without the clear and concise statement of each question,
as otherwise required; provided, however, that such clear and concise statement of
such question shall instead appear in a conspicuous location within each privacy voting
booth at each polling place with additional copies thereof available at each polling
place; and for mail ballot voters, each such ballot sent to a mail ballot voter shall
be accompanied by a clear and concise statement of each question printed on a separate
sheet of paper.